EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Effective as of October 9, 2007 between AFC Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) and Cheryl A. Bachelder (“Employee”)
Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Effective as of October 9, 2007 between
AFC Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (“Employee”)
Effective as of October 9, 2007 between
AFC Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (“Employee”)
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee and to enter into an agreement embodying the
terms of such employment (the “Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, Employee desires to accept such employment and to enter into such agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and for
other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:
1. Term of Agreement.
This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and, unless earlier terminated
pursuant to Section 8 or Section 9 hereof, shall be for an initial term of one (1) year (the
“Term”). The Term of this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder will automatically be
extended for an additional one-year period following the expiration of each year of employment
hereunder (the “Renewal Date”), without further action by Employee or the Company. Such automatic
one-year renewal shall continue from year to year unless and until either the Company or Employee
gives to the other written notice not less than thirty (30) days prior to the applicable Renewal
Date of its decision not to renew for an additional one year.
For purposes of this Section 1 only, the first “year” of the Term shall be deemed to begin as
of the date hereof and end on December 28, 2008, and each one (1) year period thereafter shall
coincide with the Company’s fiscal year.
2. Employment.
2.01
Position. Beginning on November 1, 2007 (the “Start Date”), Employee shall
serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and President of its Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
division, and shall perform such duties consistent with her position as may be assigned to her from
time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). Employee shall perform her
duties hereunder at the Company’s offices at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, subject to such reasonable amount of travel as is necessary to render the services
provided hereunder. Employee shall remain a member of the Board during the term hereof.
2.02 Time and Efforts. Employee, so long as she is employed hereunder, shall devote
her full business time and attention to the services required of her hereunder, except as otherwise
agreed and for vacation time and reasonable periods of absence due to sickness or personal injury,
and shall use her best efforts, judgment and energy to perform, improve and advance the business
and interests of the Company in a manner consistent with the duties of her position.
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Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, nothing shall preclude Employee from (i)
serving on one board of a for-profit organization, presently True Value, with future board service
at other companies subject to prior approval of the Board, (ii) serving on the boards of directors
of trade associations, (iii) engaging in charitable activities and community affairs; or (iv)
managing her personal investments and affairs, provided that the activities described in the
preceding clauses (i) through (iv) do not interfere with the proper performance of her duties and
responsibilities hereunder.
3. Base Salary.
Beginning on the Start Date, the Company shall pay Employee, in equal installments no less
frequently than monthly, a base salary at the rate of Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($650,000)
per annum (the “Base Salary”) during the Term hereof. The Employee’s Base Salary shall be reviewed
by the Board on an annual basis.
4. Incentive Pay and Special Bonus Pay.
4.01 Annual Plan. The Board, acting in its sole discretion, shall annually, at the
beginning of each fiscal year of the Company, approve an annual incentive plan (the “Annual
Incentive Plan”) for Employee, which Plan shall contain such terms and provisions as the Board
shall determine. The Annual Incentive Plan shall set forth the specific financial and performance
goals which must be achieved for Employee to be entitled to receive payment under such Annual
Incentive Plan. Any amounts payable to Employee pursuant to the Annual Incentive Plan is
hereinafter referred to as “Incentive Pay”.
4.02 Target Incentive Pay. The target Incentive Pay (“Target Incentive Pay”) for
Employee for each of the 2007 and 2008 fiscal years of the Company shall be as follows: Six
Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($650,000); provided, however, that the Target Incentive Pay with
respect to any fiscal year is subject to, and may be modified by, the Annual Incentive Plan
approved by the Board pursuant to Section 4.01 above and this Section 4.02 shall be read
accordingly. For the 2007 fiscal year, Employee’s Target Incentive Pay, if earned, shall be
prorated for the amount of time remaining in the Company’s 2007 fiscal year by dividing the actual
number of days of Employee’s employment with the Company during fiscal 2007 by the total number of
days in the Company’s fiscal 2007. After 2008, the Target Incentive Pay for Employee will be set by
the Board of the Company for each fiscal year and will be included in the Annual Incentive Plan for
such year. The Company agrees to establish Employee’s specific financial and performance goals for
each Annual Incentive Plan prior to the start of any applicable performance measurement period.
4.03 Payment of Incentive Pay. If Employee is entitled to payment of any Incentive
Pay for any fiscal year, an accounting will be furnished and payment will be made to Employee as
set forth in the Annual Incentive Plan, but in no event later than two and one-half months
following the end of each fiscal year.
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4.04 Termination of Employment. If Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate
other than pursuant to Sections 8.03 or 8.04, Employee shall receive, at the time contemplated by
the Annual Incentive Plan, such Incentive Pay, if any, to which she would have been entitled under
the terms of the Annual Incentive Plan had Employee remained in the employ of the Company for the
entire fiscal year in which such termination occurs. If Employee’s employment hereunder shall
terminate pursuant to (a) Section 8.03, the provisions of Section 8.03 shall determine the amount
of Incentive Pay payable to Employee; or (b) Section 8.04, no Incentive Pay shall be payable to
Employee after such termination.
4.05 Special Bonus Pay. In addition to any Annual Incentive Pay that Employee may
earn pursuant to Employee’s Annual Incentive Plan, Employee shall receive a one-time guaranteed
payment in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) payable within thirty (30) days of
Employee’s Start Date.
4.06 Relocation and Temporary Living Expenses. Employee shall be entitled to receive
reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company’s
executive relocation package. Additionally, Employee shall be entitled to receive reimbursement
for temporary living expenses, personal travel expenses, and other related expenses as incurred by
Employee pending Employee’s permanent relocation to Atlanta, Georgia. The total amount of
temporary living expenses to be reimbursed shall not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($150,000). Employee shall be grossed up in order to pay all federal, state and local income tax
and social security and other employment tax on the reimbursed amounts.
5. Stock Options and Restricted Stock Grants.
Effective upon the Employee’s Start Date, the Company shall grant to Employee certain
restricted stock shares and stock options, pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Incentive Stock Plan, as
hereinafter set forth.
(a) The Company shall grant to Employee 30,000 shares of restricted stock which shall vest
100% on the first anniversary of Employee’s Start Date, provided she is still employed by the
Company on such anniversary date.
(b) The Company shall grant to Employee an option to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock (“Stock”) which shall have an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Stock
on the date of the grant, and shall vest over four years, with one-fourth vesting on each
anniversary date of the grant, provided she is still employed by the Company on such anniversary
date.
(c) The Company shall grant to Employee an additional option to purchase 200,000 shares of
Stock which shall have an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Stock on the date of the
grant, and shall vest over four years, with one-fourth vesting on each anniversary date of the
grant provided she is still employed by the Company on such anniversary date; further provided,
however, the option to purchase such Stock to the extent so vested shall only be exercisable, in
whole or in part, if any of the following performance criterion are satisfied:
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| (i) | If the Stock price maintains an average of $20.00 per share for twenty (20) consecutive trading days, then Employee shall have the right to the extent her right to exercise the option is then vested to purchase 66,668 shares of the Stock; | ||
| (ii) | If the Stock price maintains an average of $25.00 per share for twenty (20) consecutive trading days, then Employee shall have the right to the extent her right to exercise the option is then vested to purchase 66,666 shares of the Stock; | ||
| (iii) | If the Stock price maintains an average of $30.00 per share for twenty (20) consecutive trading days, then Employee shall have the right to the extent her right to exercise the option is then vested to purchase 66,666 shares of the Stock. |
Once a performance criterion has been satisfied, Employee shall have the right to exercise her
option if, and when, her right to exercise the option vests without regard to any decline in the
average price per share following the satisfaction of such criteria. To the extent that any or all
of the foregoing performance criteria are not satisfied by the fifth (5th) anniversary
of the grant date, then any portion of such option not exercisable due to such failure to satisfy
such performance criterion shall automatically terminate on the fifth (5th) anniversary
of the grant date.
The terms of this Section 5 are subject to the applicable provisions of Section 8 hereof.
As part of the Employee’s compensation after the foregoing grants of restricted stock shares
and stock options have been made, Employee may be granted additional stock options, restricted
stock shares and/or other forms of equity compensation based upon Employee’s performance as
determined in the sole discretion of the Board.
6. Employee Benefits.
6.01 Life Insurance.
During the Term and any renewal term of this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to term
life insurance coverage paid by the Company with a death benefit in an amount of $3,250,000.
6.02 Disability Insurance.
(a) During the Term and any renewal term of this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to
disability insurance coverage in an amount not less than her disability coverage on the date of
this Agreement and the Company shall maintain in full force and effect during the Term a
Supplemental Disability Policy which will supplement the benefits payable under any disability
benefit provided to Employee by the Company under its basic employee health care benefit program,
so that, subject to Section 6.06 below, with respect to a disability as defined in the Supplemental
Disability Policy (a “Policy Disability”) occurring after the Company has
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obtained the Supplemental Disability Policy, the total monthly disability benefit (the
“Disability Benefit”) payable to Employee under all disability policies maintained by the Company,
after a maximum elimination period of ninety (90) days, shall equal Thirty Thousand Dollars
($30,000) per month.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the premiums for the Supplemental
Disability Policy for Employee shall exceed regular, non-rated premiums, the Company may, but shall
have no obligation to, fund such excess. In the event the Company determines not to fund such
excess it shall promptly notify Employee and Employee may, at her option, elect to pay the excess.
If Employee fails to pay such excess or if for any other reason the Company, after reasonable
efforts, is not able to obtain the Supplemental Disability Policy required herein, then Employee
shall not be entitled to the Supplemental Disability Policy Benefit hereunder except as may
otherwise be determined in the discretion of the Company and set forth in writing.
(c) If the definition of a Policy Disability does not satisfy the requirements for a payment
based on a “disability” under § 409A of the Code and the related tax regulations, the payment of
her Disability Benefit shall begin when she has a Separation from Service (as defined in Section
8.01) as a result of her being Disabled or, if she is a Specified Employee (as defined in Section
8.01), shall begin on her Delayed Payment Date (as defined in Section 8.01), and the payment made
on her Delayed Payment Date shall include all the payments which would have been made on and after
the date of her Separation from Service but for her status as a Specified Employee.
6.03 Employee Medical Benefit. The Company, at its expense, shall provide Employee
with an annual physical examination to be conducted by a physician or physicians as determined by
Employee, subject to the reasonable approval of the Company.
6.04 Other Benefits. Employee shall be provided additional employee benefits in
addition to those identified in Sections 6.01 — 6.03, including, without limitation, participation
in the Company’s 401(k) plan beginning on the Start Date with immediate full vesting in the
Company’s matching contributions beginning with any matching contribution made for fiscal year
2007, health, accident and disability insurance under the Company’s regular and ongoing plans,
policies and programs available, from time to time, to senior officers of the Company, in
accordance with the provisions of such plans, policies and programs governing eligibility and
participation; provided, however, that such benefits may be modified, amended or rescinded by
the Board subject to applicable law and the terms of such plans. The Company shall also pay
Employee’s initiation fee as well as monthly membership dues at the Ashford Club, Atlanta, Georgia.
6.05 Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to five (5) weeks paid vacation and three
(3) days of paid personal business time each year during the Term hereof and any renewal hereof.
Any vacation or personal business days not used in any year shall be subject to forfeiture or
accrual pursuant to the Company’s then-current vacation policy.
6.06 Paramount Provisions.
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(a) Notwithstanding anything in Sections 6.01and 6.02 above or any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, if the Company has met all of its obligations under this Agreement (and
provided that such obligations are not relieved in accordance with the terms hereof), with respect
to obtaining and maintaining in force (i) the life insurance policy described in Section 6.01
hereof on the life of Employee to fund the minimum death benefit, or (ii) the Supplemental
Disability Policy maintained for Employee pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof to fund such Employee’s
Disability Benefit, but all or any portion of the proceeds under any such policy are not actually
received by the Employee for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation the insolvency of
the insurer or any misrepresentation made by Employee in the application for such insurance, then
the right of Employee or her designated beneficiary to receive a Disability Benefit or a death
benefit, as the case may be, shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount by which the
Disability Benefit or death benefit otherwise payable exceeds the insurance proceeds actually
received. The Company agrees that any insurance company issuing the life insurance policy
described in Section 6.01 shall have at least an “A” rating by the Best Rating Service.
(b) Anything in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, and 6.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
amount of the benefits provided for in Section 6 are subject to adjustment as shall be provided for
in the plan or insurance contract, as the case may be, pursuant to which such benefit is being paid
and the Employee will be given written notice of any such change. Anything in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Board shall have full authority to make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of the benefits described in this Section 6. The
good faith interpretation and construction by the Board of the terms of this Section 6 or the
benefit programs described herein shall be final, conclusive and binding on Employee.
7. Business Expenses.
All reasonable and customary business expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of her
duties hereunder shall be paid or reimbursed by the Company in accordance with the Company’s
policies in effect, from time to time. The amount of reasonable business expenses eligible for
reimbursement in any taxable year of Employee shall not affect the amount of reasonable business
expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year of Employee.
8. Termination of Employment.
8.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
The term “Cause” shall mean (i) Employee commits fraud or is convicted of a crime involving
moral turpitude, (ii) Employee, in carrying out her duties hereunder, has been guilty of gross
neglect or gross misconduct resulting in harm to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates, (iii) Employee shall have failed to materially comply with the policies of the Company
or shall have refused to follow or comply with the duly promulgated directives of the Board, (iv)
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Employee has breached any of the provisions of Sections 10.02 through and including 10.04 or (v)
Employee otherwise materially breaches a material term of this Agreement.
The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The term “Constructive Discharge” shall mean a Separation from Service by the Employee on
account of a material diminution of or change in her responsibilities or duties; provided, however,
that no Separation from Service by the Employee shall be considered a Constructive Discharge
unless, within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such diminution or change Employee has
first provided written notice to the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors of the factual
circumstances forming the basis for the claim of constructive discharge and of her intent to treat
those circumstances as a Constructive Discharge under this Agreement, and has further provided the
Company with a period of at least thirty (30) days in which to cure such alleged breach.
The term “Delayed Payment Date” shall mean the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day
after the date of Employee’s Separation from Service.
The term “Disability” shall mean the good faith determination by the Board that Employee has
failed to or has been unable to perform her duties as the result of any physical or mental
disability for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days during any one period of Disability.
The term “Separation from Service” shall mean a “separation from service” with the Company
within the meaning of § 409A of the Code and the related income tax regulations.
The term “Specified Employee” shall mean a “specified employee” within the meaning of § 409A
of the Code and the related income tax regulations.
8.02 Termination upon Death or Disability. If Employee has a Separation from Service
due to her death or Disability, the Company shall pay to the estate of the Employee or to the
Employee, as the case may be, within fifteen (15) days following Employee’s death or upon her
termination in the event of Disability, all amounts then payable to Employee pro rated through the
date of termination pursuant to Section 3, and the amount of any accrued but unused vacation under
Section 6.05 for the year in which such termination occurs and any reimbursable amounts owed
Employee under Section 7. However, if the definition of a Disability does not satisfy the
requirements for a payment based on a “disability” under § 409A of the Code and the related tax
regulations, any payments due hereunder shall begin when she has a Separation from Service as a
result of her being Disabled or, if she is a Specified Employee, shall begin on her Delayed Payment
Date, and the payment made on her Delayed Payment Date shall include all the payments which would
have been made on and after the date of her Separation from Service but for her status as a
Specified Employee. Finally, the Company shall pay to Employee any Incentive Pay payable pursuant
to Section 4.03 hereof. Such payment shall be made in a lump sum in cash at Employee’s Separation
from Service or, if Employee is a Specified Employee, on Employee’s Delayed Payment Date.
8.03 Termination by the Company without Cause or Employee’s Resignation for a
Constructive Discharge. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment under this
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Agreement without Cause at any time upon written notice to Employee. If Employee has a
Separation from Service as a result of a termination without Cause (other than a Separation from
Service described in Section 8.02) or as a result of her resignation because she has experienced a
Constructive Discharge or as a result of the Company’s decision not to renew the Term pursuant to
Section 1, the Company shall pay or provide to Employee, in lieu of all other amounts payable
hereunder or benefits to be provided hereunder the following: (a) a payment equal to the sum of
(x), (y) and (z) where (x) is two (2) times Employee’s Base Salary at the time of termination, (y)
is two (2) times Employee’s Target Incentive Pay for the year in which such termination occurs (or,
if no Target Incentive Pay has been designated for such year, then the Target Incentive Pay for the
last year in which it was designated prior to such termination); and (z) is a prorated portion of
Employee’s Target Incentive Pay for the year in which such termination occurs based upon her Target
Incentive Pay according to the metrics established by the People Services (Compensation) Committee
of the Board (or if no Target Incentive Pay has been designated for such year, then the Target
Incentive Pay for the last year in which it was designated prior to such termination) based on the
proportion that the number of days from January 1 in the year of such termination through and
including the date of termination bears to the total number of days in the year of termination less
any amount of Employee’s Target Incentive Pay for such fiscal year that that has been previously
paid to Employee; and (b) the acceleration of any unvested rights of Employee under any restricted
stock, stock options (other than stock options described in Section 5(c) for which the performance
criterion required for exercise has not been previously satisfied) or other equity incentive awards
such that they shall immediately vest under the terms of such awards. As a condition precedent to
the requirement of Company to make such payment or grant such accelerated vesting, Employee shall
not be in breach of her obligations under Section 10 hereof and Employee shall execute and deliver
to Company a general release in favor of the Company in substantially the same form as the general
release then being used by the Company.
Any payment required to be made under this Section 8.03 shall be made to Employee in a lump
sum in cash on her Separation from Service or, if she is a Specified Employee, on her Delayed
Payment Date.
8.04 Voluntary Termination by Employee or Termination for Cause. Employee may resign
her employment hereunder at any time whatsoever, with or without cause, upon thirty (30) days prior
written notice to the Company. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment hereunder at any
time without notice for Cause. In the event Employee has a Separation from Service as a result of
her resignation (other than as a result of a Constructive Discharge) or as a result of a
termination by the Company for Cause:
(a) The Company shall pay to Employee in a lump sum in cash on her Separation from Service or,
if she is a Specified Employee, on her Delayed Payment Date all amounts then due under Sections 3,
4 (but only to the extent of earned but unpaid Incentive Pay), 6 and 7, prorated, through the date
of termination for the year in which she is terminated; and
(b) The Company shall be under no obligation to make severance payments to Employee or
continue any benefits being provided to Employee beyond the date of such
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termination other than benefits to which Employee may be entitled as a result of Federal or
state law.
If Employee is terminated by the Company for Cause, Employee may within the ten (10) business
day period immediately following such termination request in writing that the Chairman of the Board
of Directors provide a written statement of the facts supporting her termination for Cause, and
Employee during the ten (10) business day period immediately following the delivery of such
statement may submit a written petition to the Chairman of the Board of Directors that her
employment be reinstated with full pay retroactive to the date of her termination of employment.
Any such petition shall set forth her reason or reasons why there was no Cause for her termination,
and she may request that she be granted a meeting with the Board of Directors so she (or Employee
and her attorney) can present such reason or reasons in person and answer any questions which any
of the members of the Board of Directors want to ask Employee. The Board of Directors will
promptly act on her petition, and the decision of the Board of Directors shall be final and binding
on the Company and on Employee.
9. Change of Control, Change in Responsibilities.
Upon the occurrence of both of the following events:
(a) The dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a reorganization, merger or
consolidation of the Company with one or more corporations as a result of which the owners of all
of the outstanding shares of Stock immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation own in the aggregate, directly and indirectly, less than 50% of the outstanding
shares of Stock of the Company or any other entity into which the Company shall be merged or
consolidated immediately following the consummation thereof, or the sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or more than 50% of the then outstanding
shares of Stock of the Company in a single transaction or series of related transactions (a “Change
in Control”); and
(b) Within one (1) year of such Change in Control (1) there is a termination of employment
without Cause or (2) there is a material diminution of or change in Employee’s responsibilities or
duties and Employee elects, in writing, within ninety (90) days following the occurrence of such
diminution or change to resign effective thirty (30) days after the Company’s receipt of such
notice, then, if Employee has a Separation from Service as a result of such termination or
resignation, she shall be deemed to have been terminated by the Company other than for Cause and
all amounts payable to Employee pursuant to Section 8.03 shall become payable in a lump sum in cash
on her Separation from Service or, if she is a Specified Employee, on her Delayed Payment Date. In
addition, Employee’s right to exercise the option described in Section 5(c) shall fully vest on her
Separation from Service and, if the Stock price was at least $20.00 a share or at least $25.00 a
share or at least $30.00 a share on the effective date of the Change in Control, such price on the
effective date shall be treated as satisfying the twenty (20) consecutive trading day Stock price
requirement under the applicable performance criterion under Section 5(c) and Employee shall have
the right to exercise such option to the extent such performance criterion is so treated as
satisfied.
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A Change in Control of the Company shall not be deemed to occur by reason of any public
offering of the Stock of the Company.
Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, or in any other agreement referred to in
Section 5 hereof, no merger, reorganization, recapitalization, sale of stock, sale of assets or
other change in the capital structure of the Company or in the identity of the legal or beneficial
owners of the Company shall affect the rights or obligations of the Company or Employee hereunder.
10. Confidentiality and Non-Competition.
10.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Section 10, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
“Affiliate” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity of
which the Company owns at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding equity and voting rights,
directly or indirectly, through any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or
other entity.
“Businesses” means the businesses engaged in by the Company directly or through its Affiliates
immediately prior to termination of employment.
“Confidential Information” means information which does not rise to the level of a Trade
Secret, but is valuable to the Company or any Affiliate and provided in confidence to Employee.
“Proprietary Information” means, collectively, Trade Secrets and Confidential Information.
“Restricted Period” means the period commencing as of the date hereof and ending on that date
two years (2) year after the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason,
whether voluntary or involuntary.
“Trade Secrets” means information which derives economic value, actual or potential, from not
being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who
can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and is the subject of efforts that are
reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
10.02 Covenant Not-To-Disclose. The Company and Employee recognize that, during the
course of Employee’s employment with the Company, the Company has disclosed and will continue to
disclose to Employee Proprietary Information concerning the Company and the Affiliates, their
products, their franchisees, their services and other matters concerning their Businesses, all of
which constitute valuable assets of the Company and the Affiliates. The Company and Employee
further acknowledge that the Company has, and will, invest considerable amounts of time, effort and
corporate resources in developing such valuable assets and that disclosure by Employee of such
assets to the public shall cause irreparable harm,
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damage and loss to the Company and the Affiliates. Accordingly, Employee acknowledges and
agrees that, except as may be required by law:
(a) that the Proprietary Information is and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company
(or the applicable Affiliate);
(b) to use the Proprietary Information exclusively for the purpose of fulfilling the
obligations under this Agreement;
(c) to return the Proprietary Information, and any copies thereof, in her possession or under
her control, to the Company (or the applicable Affiliate) upon request of the Company (or the
Affiliate), or expiration or termination of Employee’s employment hereunder for any reason; and
(d) to hold the Proprietary Information in confidence and not copy, publish or disclose to
others or allow any other party to copy, publish or disclose to others in any form, any Proprietary
Information without the prior written approval of an authorized representative of the Company.
The obligations and restrictions set forth in this Section 10.02 shall survive the expiration
or termination of this Agreement, for any reason, and shall remain in full force and effect as
follows:
(a) as to Trade Secrets, indefinitely, and
(b) as to Confidential Information, for a period of two (2) years after the expiration or
termination of this Agreement for any reason.
The confidentiality, property, and proprietary rights protections available in this Agreement
are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any and all other corporate rights, including those
provided under copyright, corporate officer or director fiduciary duties, and trade secret and
confidential information laws. The obligations set forth in this Section 10.02 shall not apply or
shall terminate with respect to any particular portion of the Proprietary Information which (i) was
in Employee’s possession, free of any obligation of confidence, prior to her receipt from the
Company or its Affiliate, (ii) Employee establishes the Proprietary Information is already in the
public domain at the time the Company or the Affiliate communicates it to Employee, or becomes
available to the public through no breach of this Agreement by Employee, or (iii) Employee establishes that she received the Proprietary Information independently and in good faith
from a third party lawfully in possession thereof and having no obligation to keep such information
confidential.
10.03 Covenant of Non-Disparagement and Cooperation. Employee agrees that she shall
not at any time during or following the Term of this Agreement make any remarks disparaging the
conduct or character of the Company or the Affiliates or any of the Company’s or the Affiliates’
current or former agents, employees, officers, directors, successors or assigns (collectively the
“Related Parties”). In addition, Employee agrees to cooperate with the Related
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Parties, at no extra cost, in any litigation or administrative proceedings (e.g., EEOC
charges) involving any matters with which Employee was involved during Employee’s employment with
the Company. The Company shall reimburse Employee for reasonable expenses incurred by Employee in
providing such assistance.
10.04 Covenant Not-To-Induce. Employee covenants and agrees that during the
Restricted Period, she will not, directly or indirectly, on her own behalf or in the service or on
behalf of others, hire, solicit, take away or attempt to hire, solicit or take away any person who
is or was an employee of the Company or any Affiliate during the one (1) year period preceding the
termination of Employee’s employment.
10.05 Remedies. The Company and Employee expressly agree that a violation of any of
the covenants contained in subsections 10.02 through and including 10.04 of this Section 10, or any
provision thereof, shall cause irreparable injury to the Company and that, accordingly, the Company
shall be entitled, in addition to any other rights and remedies it may have at law or in equity, to
an injunction enjoining and restraining Employee from doing or continuing to do any such act and
any other violation or threatened violation of said Sections 10.02 through and including 10.04
hereof.
10.06 Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be found to
be void, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless be binding with the same
effect as though the void part were deleted; provided, however, if sections 10.02 through and
including 10.04 of this Section 10 shall be declared invalid, in whole or in part, Employee shall
execute, as soon as possible, a supplemental agreement with the Company, granting the Company, to
the extent legally possible, the protection afforded by said subsections. It is expressly
understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the Company shall not be barred from enforcing the
restrictive covenants contained in each of subsections 10.02 through and including 10.04, as each
are separate and distinct, so that the invalidity of any one or more of said covenants shall not
affect the enforceability and validity of the other covenants.
10.07 Ownership of Property. Employee agrees and acknowledges that all works of
authorship and inventions, including but not limited to products, goods, know-how, Trade Secrets
and Confidential Information, and any revisions thereof, in any form and in whatever stage of
creation or development, arising out of or resulting from, or in connection with, the services
provided by Employee to the Company or any Affiliate under this Agreement are works made for hire
and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or such Affiliate. Employee agrees to
execute such documents as the Company may reasonably request for the purpose of effectuating the
rights of the Company or the Affiliate in any such property.
10.08 No Defense. The existence of any claim, demand, action or cause of action of
the Employee against the Company shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company
of any of the covenants or agreements in this Section 10.
11. Gross Up Payment. The term “Gross Up Payment” as used in this Agreement shall
mean a payment to or on behalf of Employee which shall be sufficient to pay (1) 100% of any excise
tax described in this Section 11, (2) 100% of any federal, state and local income tax
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and social security and other employment tax on the payment made to pay such excise tax as
well as any additional taxes on such payment and (3) 100% of any interest or penalties assessed by
the Internal Revenue Service on Employee which are related to the timely payment of such excise tax
(unless such interest or penalties are attributable to Employee’s willful misconduct or gross
negligence with respect to such timely payment). A Gross Up Payment shall be made by the Company
in a lump sum at the Company’s option either directly to the United States Treasury or to Employee
after either the Company or the Company’s independent accountants determine that any payments and
benefits called for under this Agreement together with any other payments and benefits made
available to Employee by the Company and any other person will result in Employee being subject to
an excise tax under § 4999 of the Code or such an excise tax is assessed against Employee as a
result of any such payments and other benefits if Employee takes such action (other than waiving
Employee’s right to any payments or benefits in excess of the payments or benefits which Employee
has expressly agreed to waive under this Section 11) as the Company reasonably requests under the
circumstances to mitigate or challenge such excise tax; provided, however, if the Company or the
Company’s independent accountants make the determination described in this Section 11 and, further,
determine that Employee will not be subject to any such excise tax if Employee waives Employee’s
right to receive a part of such payments or benefits and such part does not exceed $10,000,
Employee shall irrevocably waive Employee’s right to receive such part if an independent accountant
or lawyer retained by Employee and paid by the Company agrees with the determination made by the
Company or the Company’s independent accountants with respect to the effect of such reduction in
payments or benefits. Any determinations under this Section 11 shall be made in accordance with §
280G of the Code and any applicable related regulations (whether proposed, temporary or final) and
any related Internal Revenue Service rulings and any related case law and, if the Company
reasonably requests that Employee take action to mitigate or challenge, or to mitigate and
challenge, any such tax or assessment (other than waiving Employee’s right to any payments or
benefits in excess of the payments or benefits which Employee has expressly agreed to waive under
this Section 11 and Employee complies with such request, the Company shall provide Employee with
such information and such expert advice and assistance from the Company’s independent accountants,
lawyers and other advisors as Employee may reasonably request and shall pay for all expenses
incurred in effecting such compliance and any related fines, penalties, interest and other
assessments.
12. Indemnification and Liability Insurance.
12.01 Company Obligations. The Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold
harmless Employee, to the extent allowed by applicable law, against all liabilities, obligations,
claims, demands, actions, causes of action, lawsuits, judgments, expenses and costs, including but
not limited to the reasonable costs of investigation and attorney’s fees, incurred by the Employee
as a result of any threat, demand, claim action or lawsuits, made, instituted or initiated against
the Employee, which arises out of, results from or relates to this Agreement or any action taken by
Employee in the course of performance of Employee’s duties hereunder, except for Employee’s own
gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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12.02 Notice and Defense of Claim. If any claim suit or other legal proceeding shall
be commenced, or any claim or demand be asserted against the Employee and Employee desires
indemnification pursuant to this paragraph, the Company shall be notified to such effect with
reasonable promptness and shall have the right to assume at its full cost and expense the entire
control of any legal proceeding, subject to the right of the Employee to participate at her full
cost and expense and with counsel of her choice in the defense, compromise or settlement thereof.
The Employee shall cooperate fully in all respects with the Company in any such defense, compromise
or settlement, including, without limitation, making available to the Company all pertinent
information under the control of the Employee. The Company may compromise or settle any such
action, suit, proceeding, claim or demand without Employee’s approval so long as the Company
obtains for Employee’s benefit a release of liability with respect to such claim from the claimant
and the Company assumes and agrees to pay any amounts due with respect to such settlement. In no
event shall the Company be liable for any settlement entered into by the Employee without the
Company’s prior written consent.
12.03 Survival. The provisions of Sections 12.01 and 12.02 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement for a period of four (4) years, unless Employee is terminated for
Cause, in which event such provisions shall not survive termination of this Agreement.
12.04 Liability Insurance. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain and maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering the Employee to the same
extent as the Company covers its other officers and directors.
13. Dispute Resolution.
13.01 Agreement to Arbitrate. In consideration for her continued employment with the
Company, and other consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Employee
acknowledges and agrees that any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to Employee’s
employment, termination of employment, or this Agreement including, but not limited to,
controversies and claims that are protected or covered by any federal, state, or local statute,
regulation or common law, shall be settled by arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act.
This includes, but is not limited to, violations or alleged violations of any federal or state
statute or common law (including, but not limited to, the laws of the United States or of any
state, or the Constitution of the United States or of any state), or of any other law, statute,
ordinance, including but not limited to, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1972, as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and
any other statute or common law. This provision shall not, however, preclude the Company from
seeking equitable relief as provided in Section 10.06 of this Agreement.
13.02 Procedure. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the
Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association: a single arbitrator who is
experienced in employment law shall be selected under those Rules, and the arbitration shall be
initiated in Atlanta, Georgia, unless the parties agree in writing to a different location or the
Arbitrator directs the arbitration to be held at a different location. Except for filing fees, all
costs of the
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arbitrator shall be allocated by the arbitrator. The award rendered by the arbitrator shall
be final and binding on the parties hereto and judgment thereon may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction thereof. In addition to that provided for in the Employment Arbitration Rules, the
arbitrator has sole discretion to permit discovery consistent with the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure and the judicial interpretation of those rules upon request by any party; provided,
however, it is the intent of the parties that the arbitrator limit the time and scope of any such
discovery to the greatest extent practicable and provide a decision as rapidly as possible given
the circumstances of the claims to be determined. The arbitrator also shall have the power and
authority to grant injunctive relief for any violation of Sections 10.02 through and including
10.04 and the arbitrator’s order granting such relief may be entered in any court of competent
jurisdiction. The agreement to arbitrate any claim arising out of the employment relationship or
termination of employment shall not apply to those claims which cannot be made subject to this
provision by statute, regulation or common law. These include, but are not limited to, any claims
relating to work related injuries and claims for unemployment benefits under applicable state laws.
13.03 Rights of Parties. Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prevent the
Company from asking a court of competent jurisdiction to enter appropriate equitable relief to
enjoin any violation of this Agreement by Employee. The Company shall have the right to seek such
relief in connection with or apart from the parties’ rights under this clause to arbitrate all
disputes. With respect to disputes arising under this Agreement that are submitted to a court
rather than an arbitrator, including actions to compel arbitration or for equitable relief in aid
of arbitration, the parties agree that venue and jurisdiction are proper in any state or federal
court lying within Atlanta, Georgia and specifically consent to the jurisdiction and venue of such
court for the purpose of any proceedings contemplated by this paragraph. By entering into this
Agreement the parties have waived any right which may exist for a trial by jury and have expressly
agreed to resolve any disputes covered by this Agreement through the arbitration process described
herein.
14. Employee Acknowledgment.
By signing this Agreement, Employee acknowledges that the Company has advised Employee of her
right to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; that she has the right to
retain counsel of her own choosing concerning the agreement to arbitrate or any waiver of rights or
claims; that she has read and fully understands the terms of this Agreement and/or has had the
right to have it reviewed and approved by counsel of choice, with adequate opportunity and time for
such review; and that she is fully aware of its contents and of its legal effect. Accordingly,
this Agreement shall not be construed against any party on the grounds that the party drafted this
Agreement. Instead, this Agreement shall be interpreted as though drafted equally by all parties.
15. Amendments.
This Agreement may not be altered, modified or amended except by a written instrument signed
by each of the parties hereto.
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16. Successors.
As used in this Agreement, the term the Company shall include any successors to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company which assumes and agrees to perform
this Agreement.
17. Assignment.
Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations of either party hereunder shall be
assigned or delegated by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party,
except that the Company may without the consent of Employee assign its rights and delegate its
duties hereunder to any successor to the business of the Company. In the event of the assignment
by the Company of its rights and the delegation of its duties to a successor to the business of the
Company and the assumption of such rights and obligations by such successor, the Company shall,
effective upon such assumption, be relieved from any and all obligations whatsoever to Employee
hereunder.
18. Waiver.
Waiver by any party hereto of any breach or default by any other party of any of the terms of
this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any other breach or default, whether similar to or
different from the breach or default waived.
19. Severability.
In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.
20. Survival.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the provisions of Sections 6.06, 7, 8.03, 9,
10, 11, 12 and 13 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
21. Entire Terms.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment
of Employee by the Company. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants
or undertakings other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior
agreements, arrangements and understandings between the parties, whether oral or written, with
respect to the employment of Employee.
22. Notices.
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Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or if mailed in the manner herein
specified, five (5) days after postmark of such mailing when mailed by United States registered
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to Employee:
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
||
| If to the Company to: | ||
| AFC Enterprises, Inc. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Attn: General Counsel |
or to such other address or such other person as Employee or the Company shall designate in writing
in accordance with this Section 22 except that notices regarding changes in notices shall be
effective only upon receipt.
23. Headings.
Headings to Sections in this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and are not
intended to be a part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
24. Governing Laws.
The Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia without reference to the
principles of conflict of laws.
25. Compliance with § 409A of the Code. To the extent this Agreement is subject to §
409A of the Code, the Company and Employee intend all payments under this Agreement to comply with
the requirements of such section, and this Agreement shall, to the extent reasonably practicable,
be operated and administered to effectuate such intent.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed and Employee has
hereunto set her hand as of the day and year first above written.
| COMPANY: AFC ENTERPRISES, INC. |
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| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||
| ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Chairman of the Board | ||||
| EMPLOYEE: |
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| /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
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